“So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” John 13:14

Dear Friends:

Last night I ducked into the neighborhood spa and quickly got a pedicure. My feet are gross. Getting a pedicure gives me a false hope that maybe my feet might look better when the time is right. Well, now is the time. Tomorrow night is Maundy Thursday: foot washing night. Except for the kids, no one likes getting their feet washed. So, why do we do it? Because Jesus tells us to wash each other’s feet.

Earlier this week, a stranger appeared at the door of my office. He graciously introduced himself, having heard about Epiphany. We exchanged cordialities. Then, he said, “It’s Holy Week. I wanted to tell you about a way to do Maundy Thursday that might help folks feel better.” Did I mention that this gentleman is a priest? He went on to tell me that for years, in the parishes where he served, folks would fuss about Maundy Thursday foot washing and how uncomfortable it made them feel. Both the person having their feet washed and the person washing. He just didn’t want folks to feel uneasy about Jesus’ command to wash one another’s feet. So, to make Jesus’ last supper teaching of humble servanthood more palatable before we read of Jesus’ betrayal, denial, sentencing to death, his crucifixion half naked upon the cross, the gentleman suggested that folks not reduce themselves to such embarrassment. Rather, folks could simply come forward and have their hands washed. We can all extend our hands as an act of Jesus’ sacrificial love, can’t we? This way, folks won’t have to feel uncomfortable about Jesus’ command to wash one another’s feet. After a bit, the gentleman bid farewell. Then I made my appointment to get to the spa for a pedicure.

Jesus’ commands are not optional. When he instructs us to love him by loving our neighbor, serving one another, we wash one another’s feet; that’s what we have to do. Of course it feels icky. We don’t like it. We’re vulnerable. We’re exposed. Folks may well see just how really unattractive we are. Even the disciples are not real keen on having their feet washed. And, you can bet, the disciples have some seriously dirty feet. They wear sandals and walk dirty, dusty roads day in and day out. They need their feet washed. But, typically that’s relegated to servants, the lower classes, those whose job it is to stay down, keep low and be ready to wash feet when folks enter a house. Jesus demeans himself to the level of a lowly servant as he loves us to the end. In doing what Jesus does, he teaches, we will know God. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Knowing God through Christ doesn’t come without some honest humiliation, difficulty and especially suffering. In his final hours, the tender touch of another may be just the healing touch Jesus needs before venturing to the cross.

So, because we are resurrected in Christ, we first walk along with him to his death as he takes all our hurt, our sin, our wounds with him to the cross. Come Thursday at 6:00 p.m. to share in the Agape Meal as a reminder of the last meal Jesus shares with his disciples. There he shows his love (agape) by washing feet and commands them to love one another. Following our feast, at 7:00 we’ll gather for worship with Foot Washing and sharing in The Lord’s Supper. The worship ends in the darkness of the night with the altar stripped bare as we depart in silence. We return Friday at 7:00 a.m. or noon or 7:00 p.m. for solemn prayers as Jesus hangs upon the cross. Saturday morning at 9:00 brief prayers are extended and at 10:00 families are welcome to hunt Easter eggs and work the amazing Holy Week stations in the back of the worship space. Saturday night the Easter Vigil reigns in Easter. Easter Sunday we’re back again for 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 5:30 p.m. worship.

This past weekend we learned a lot from our youth and children how we can be strong in suffering as nearly one million kids, youth and adults marched up Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capital demanding sensible gun control laws and an end to gun violence. Our children are not afraid to humble themselves and do what is right in loving one another. Come Thursday night. Bring your children and let them teach us once again, the power of Christ’s love through lowly servanthood.

Many blessings,

Hillary